Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef has addressed the absence of new striker Flavio Silva, saying they are a big team and will be ready to face Richards Bay, with or without him.
Silva, 29, was their new attacking signing in the off-season, lured from Indonesian club Persebaya, where he scored nine goals in 33 games.
But he’s yet to feature for Chiefs after two league games, with the Guinea-Bissau born striker still awaiting the necessary paperwork to be registered.
“We are a big team, we don’t depend on one player, we don’t depend whether Silva is here or not here – we are a team that is ready to play,” Ben Youssef said.
“If they are with us [the new signings], if they are with us, they deserve to play in this team, we have Duba, Naledi, we are waiting for Silva – so for us as a technical staff, whoever is ready, they will play.
“If Silva is with us, he will give us more solutions – now his paperwork, when it’s ready, when we get the green light from the board that he’s ready, it will be more solutions for us, he will help us for sure – now we only think about the players available for us.”
Chiefs started with newly promoted youngster Naledi Hlongwane in the 2-0 win over Stellenbosch FC and Wandile Duba in the 1-0 win over Polokwane City ahead of their third fixture against Richards Bay at FNB Stadium tomorrow.
Ashley du Preez and Tashreeq Morris are the other attacking options currently in the squad, should Silva still not be eligible for selection, while Etiosa Ighodaro was announced on Tuesday.
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